I don’t watch theater
Josh Marshall says:
[T]he pattern in the 2000 and 2004 presidential debates was essentially this: the Democrat generally won each debate on points and even in the snap polls of undecided voters. But there was usually some remark or bit of affect that — ludicrous or not — right-wing commentators and yakkers fixed in on and were able to parlay into the dominating conversation of the next few days. In this way, strong debate performances turned into weak debate performances. [ Having Slept On It ]
After 2004, I pretty much decided that the debates were a form of political theater, not substance, and therefore pretty much a waste of time to anyone who was concerned about issues and policy. That’s why I spent last night watching The Long, Long Trailer instead of the Obama / McCain rumble. I think it’s the first presidential debate I’ve missed since 1988. After all, if we’re going to talk about sighs instead of what was said …
I’m glad Obama seems to have done well, but the fact that we’re talking more about whether or not McCain looked Obama in the face rather than what any candidate actually said confirms my viewing choices last night.
